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Barack Obama will sit down with John McCain Monday for the first meeting between the former rivals since Election Day.

Obama-Biden transition spokesperson Stephanie Cutter released a statement early Friday morning announcing the planned meeting, which will take place in Chicago at Obama transition headquarters.

"It's well known that they share an important belief that Americans want and deserve a more effective and efficient government, and will discuss ways to work together to make that a reality," Cutter said in the statement.

She added that the pair will be joined in the meeting by Senator Lindsey Graham, a close friend of McCain who regularly appeared him on the campaign trail, and Congressman Rahm Emanual, who will be Obama's White House chief of staff.

As part of a poll to be released in full later today, CBS News and the New York Times asked voters who have seen television ads for both Barack Obama and John McCain about the tone of those ads.

Their responses suggest there is a gulf in voter perception of the candidates' efforts, with Obama widely seen as running the more positive advertising campaign.

Half of those surveyed say Obama's ads are primarily focused on what the candidate stands for, while thirty percent say they have been mostly concerned with attacking his Republican rival. Fifteen percent say both.

The perception is far more negative for McCain: Just 21 percent say the Arizona senator's ads are primarily focused on what he stands for, while the majority – 64 percent – say the ads have been largely concerned with attacking Obama. Twelve percent cite both.

We'll be making further results from the poll available at 6:30 this evening, so check back with CBSNews.com and watch the Evening News for a full report.

Barack Obama and John McCain will participate in one-on-one interviews during halftime of next week's installment of ESPN's "Monday Night Football," the Associated Press reports.

The interviews, set to be taped via satellite during the day on Monday, will air during halftime, ESPN says. Voters (who have not voted early or absentee) go to the polls the following day.

"I am ready," Obama said, a reference to speculation that he would run for president. He then put on a Bears cap and added, "for the Bears to go all the way, baby!"

Barack Obama and John McCain will participate in one-on-one interviews during halftime of next week's installment of ESPN's "Monday Night Football," the Associated Press reports.

The interviews, set to be taped via satellite at some point earlier on Monday, will air during halftime, ESPN says. Voters who have not voted early or absentee go to the polls the following day.

The interviews will be conducted by ESPN's Chris Berman.

"Monday Night Football" has averaged 12.2 million viewers this season, the AP notes. Obama appeared on the program in December of 2006, when his hometown team, the Chicago Bears, was playing.

"I am ready," Obama said then, a reference to speculation that he would run for president. He then put on a Bears cap and added, "for the Bears to go all the way, baby!"

Sen. John McCain and the Republican National Committee are reportedly running anti-Barack Obama robocalls in Arizona – McCain's home state.

Talking Points Memo reports that the calls hit Obama for being inexperienced and soft on terrorists. The script:

I'm calling for John McCain and the RNC because Barack Obama is so dangerously inexperienced, his running mate Joe Biden just said, he invites a major international crisis that he will be unprepared to handle alone.

If Democrats win full control of government, they will want to give civil rights to terrorists and talk unconditionally to dictators and state sponsors of terror. Barack Obama and his Democratic allies lack the experience and judgment to lead America. This call was paid for by the Republican National Committee and authorized by McCain-Palin 2008.

Few expected McCain's home state to be within Obama's reach, but recent polls have suggested McCain's lead has shrunk to the single digits in the state.

Despite the presence of the first Alaskan on a major national party ticket, Alaska's largest newspaper endorsed Barack Obama today.

The Anchorage Daily News editorial board acknowledges that Sarah Palin's selection as John McCain's running mate was a momentous event for the state and writes that "Many Alaskans are proud to see their governor, and their state, so prominent on the national stage."

But the editorial continues:

Gov. Palin's nomination clearly alters the landscape for Alaskans as we survey this race for the presidency -- but it does not overwhelm all other judgment. The election, after all is said and done, is not about Sarah Palin, and our sober view is that her running mate, Sen. John McCain, is the wrong choice for president at this critical time for our nation.

Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, brings far more promise to the office. In a time of grave economic crisis, he displays thoughtful analysis, enlists wise counsel and operates with a cool, steady hand. The same cannot be said of Sen. McCain.

After enumerating other reasons the paper's board backs Obama over McCain, the editorial returns to the subject of the state's governor with a particularly biting critique, saying she is not ready for the presidency and calling her "too risky" as a vice president:

Gov. Palin has shown the country why she has been so successful in her young political career. Passionate, charismatic and indefatigable, she draws huge crowds and sows excitement in her wake. She has made it clear she's a force to be reckoned with, and you can be sure politicians and political professionals across the country have taken note. Her future, in Alaska and on the national stage, seems certain to be played out in the limelight.

Yet despite her formidable gifts, few who have worked closely with the governor would argue she is truly ready to assume command of the most important, powerful nation on earth. To step in and juggle the demands of an economic meltdown, two deadly wars and a deteriorating climate crisis would stretch the governor beyond her range. Like picking Sen. McCain for president, putting her one 72-year-old heartbeat from the leadership of the free world is just too risky at this time.

Read the full endorsement here.

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President Bush today cast an early ballot for Republican presidential nominee John McCain, the Associated Press reports.

The president and first lady have traveled to Texas to vote in past elections. The pair plans to be at the White House on election night this year, according to AP.

An interesting side note: In an effort to draw attention to the vote, the campaign of Barack Obama, which has repeatedly tied McCain to the unpopular Mr. Bush, emailed the AP report about the vote around to campaign reporters.

Will election night bring civil unrest?

Police departments countrywide think it's a possibility, and they're preparing for riots or other violent reactions to a McCain or Obama victory, The Hill reports.

There is particular concern that a loss by Obama, who has built a big lead in the polls, could prompt significant problems.

"Some worry that if Barack Obama loses and there is suspicion of foul play in the election, violence could ensue in cities with large black populations," The Hill writes. Detroit, Chicago, Oakland and Philadelphia are among the cities that plan to have extra police deployed.

“Are we anticipating it will be a riot situation? No. But will we be prepared if it goes awry? Yes,” Oakland Police Department spokesman Jeff Thomason said.

Read full post…

Will election night bring civil unrest?

Police departments countrywide think it's a possibility, and they're preparing for riots or other violent reactions to a McCain or Obama victory, The Hill reports.

There is particular concern that a loss by Obama, who has built a big lead in the polls, could prompt significant problems.

"Some worry that if Barack Obama loses and there is suspicion of foul play in the election, violence could ensue in cities with large black populations," The Hill writes. Detroit, Chicago, Oakland and Philadelphia are among the cities that plan to have extra police deployed.

“Are we anticipating it will be a riot situation? No. But will we be prepared if it goes awry? Yes,” Oakland Police Department spokesman Jeff Thomason said.

Read full post…

The Obama campaign is planning to deploy a robocall in Wisconsin tomorrow that features a former McCain supporter who says she switched allegiances to Obama because McCain is "running a dishonorable campaign," Talking Points Memo reports.

The supporter says she has received "sleazy phone calls and mail from John McCain and his supporters viciously -- and falsely -- attacking Barack Obama."

The script:

Hi, this is Jeri Watermolen, calling for the Campaign for Change. I live in Green Bay and, like you, I've been getting sleazy phone calls and mail from John McCain and his supporters viciously -- and falsely -- attacking Barack Obama. I used to support John McCain because he honorably served our country -- but this year he's running a dishonorable campaign. We know McCain will continue many of Bush's policies, and now he's using George Bush's divisive tactics. In fact, he hired the Bush strategists whose attacks even McCain once called hateful.

Barack Obama will turn the page on these negative politics and stand up for the middle class. That's the change we need, and it's why I have changed my mind about John McCain. Join me in voting for Barack Obama. Paid for the Campaign for Change, a project of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, 608-255-5172, and authorized by Obama for America.

Listen to the call here.